PHILADELPHIA , PA - APRIL 22: Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Anthony Mantha #39 looks on during game three of the Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburg Penguins on April 22nd, 2026 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
The Devils appear to be headed toward a roster crunch: “They have 15 players who have either spent real time playing an everyday role at the NHL level, or players who require waivers to be sent down. Let’s take a rough look at the depth chart to get a feel for where things stand.” [Infernal Access ($)]
“While the offseason probably isn’t over yet, we’ve seen enough from Mehta to confirm that he would take a different approach to improving the Devils’ roster. Thankfully, there’s been a much-needed influx of skill and goal-scoring capability that should better suit the Devils’ core.” [Devils on the Rush]
NHL.com’s look at where the Devils stand in preparation for the 2026-2027 regular season: [NHL.com]
Hockey Links
The Stars sign Jason Robertson to a one-year deal:
Dallas announces it has signed Jason Robertson
1 year, $12M
He will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, but is eligible to sign an extension Jan 1 https://t.co/mpuS1T3dr2
“The Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes are one of four teams that will have their game telecasts produced and distributed by the NHL for the upcoming season. The league announced Tuesday that the Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues will also have local broadcasts done by NHL Productions when the season begins in late September.” [Associated Press]
“Would another NHL expansion draft dilute the rest of the league too much? Is it even possible to build a competitive roster through that process in today’s NHL? With the NHL in the exploratory phases of expanding to either Austin or Houston, those questions could actually get answered. Today, we’re going to test the waters to get an early gauge of what a 33rd team could realistically look like.” [The Athletic ($)]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
ST. LOUIS -- Tynan Lawrence made sure to keep an open mind as the days counted down to the moment he'd eventually find out where he'd be selected in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Early prognostications had the 17-year-old as a potential top-10 pick in the first round. But then injury came, two of them as a matter of fact, a broken foot and sprained ankle. There was also a change in venue, too, a move from Muskegon of the United States Hockey League to powerhouse Boston University in an effort to make last season count in limited action.
But in the end, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound center was projected in more than a few mock drafts to go No. 11 to the St. Louis Blues, and that's where he would wind up.
"I didn't know for sure," Lawrence said in his first visit to St. Louis after the draft. "I really didn't know any team for sure, but I kind of knew that was my range and seeing the Blues pick me, I was super thrilled. I knew it was a really exciting team, so I was happy."
The Blues picked what Doug Armstrong and the Blues scouting staff called a "dog on a bone," a 200-foot player that will continue his development with the Terriers after putting up 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 13 games with as captain of the Lumberjacks, before finishing up with seven points (two goals, five assists) in 18 games with BU.
This is the same player that put up 54 points (25 goals, 29 assists) in 56 games for Muskegon the previous season and another 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 14 playoff games. As a 14-year-old with the prestigious Shattuck St. Mary's 14U-AAA team, Lawrence had 93 points (37 goals, 56 assists) in 56 games. But he's added that 200-foot pedigree to his game, and now the work really gets going in backing up the claims by the Blues organization that saw that in him.
"I think that's one of my better strengths is my 200-foot ability, not cheating for offense and not cheating on the defensive side," said Lawrence, who heard from the likes of Robert Thomas, Jake Neighbours and Jordan Binnington upon being drafted. "I feel like combining those two and working hard with my speed, I feel like you can help your team out a lot and I feel that's a big thing."
Lawrence isn't on the Blues' radar any time soon, but he will be. That's why this time spent at BU competing for championships will serve his growth exponentially.
"The NCAA hasn't been a 17-year-old league and it's now becoming one, and 17 vs. 25 years old, that's a big difference," Armstrong said. "He went there and we just expect him to continue to grow and get better, but we think he's a 200-foot player that can play in that middle second-third line on our team and in our organization. I actually view the way the team has been built and the way the league has been going. I think we have a primary line right now if coach decides to use it that way with Holloway, Snuggerud, and Robert Thomas, then I think you need six forward who can make the balance of the next two lines. They're pretty interchangeable on where they're going to go. I think that a Lawrence is going to slide in there like all that group of players."
Lawrence will grow and develop under Jay Pandolfo, who spent 15 seasons as a defenseman for the New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders and Boston Bruins, someone who understands the ins and outs of what it takes to be an NHL player, someone who has graduated players from his alma mater as its head coach the past four seasons, including Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks), Lane Hutson (Montreal Canadiens), Ryan Greene (Chicago Blackhawks) and Shane Lachance (Devils).
"That was kind of my main idea for development," Lawrence said. "I felt like just going to BU, having that half season under my belt, I felt like I was a lot better than at the start and just kind of being able to take that to next year and build on that and kind of teach the young guys. Everyone got a year older. I feel like we're going to have a really special team next year.
"[Pandolfo] kind of knows that I know it's going to take a lot. You can't take anything for granted. You've got to work for it no matter what pick you were, how high or anything like that. Having him there is definitely a lot of fun and also my teammates. A lot of them have been drafted. Some of them played in the NHL last year and connecting with them. Their experiences definitely helped me a lot."
Lawrence is known for his high-end motor, quick in transition and a smooth and explosive skater, something the Blues can definitely use in the organization with the game geared more towards speed and 200-foot ability. It's all up to him to implement those attributes in having a successful 2026-27.
"Personally and team-wise, I feel like we want to get back to where BU is normally the last couple of years other than last year, making the tournament, the Frozen Four, going far like that," Lawrence said. "I feel like that's a big expectation for my team. For myself, I just want to be a big contributor, someone my coach can trust and have a big impact on a team next year."
And continuing to be that dog on a bone.
"Yeah, a little bit," Lawrence said of the description. "That's pretty short and sweet."
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With the days ticking before Dallas Stars superstar winger Jason Robertson was set for his arbitration hearing on Jul. 25, the pressure was on GM Jim Nill and the Stars to get something settled beforehand, whether a deal or a trade.
And, on Tuesday, it finally happened.
Dallas signed Robertson to a one-year, $12 million deal, avoiding arbitration. Because Robertson filed, the Stars are not eligible to extend him long-term until Jan. 1, at which point he would only be able to extend for a maximum of seven years under the new CBA or be dealt to another team, where he could extend for six years. Or, of course, he could walk to free agency on Jul. 1, 2027.
While the speculation is fascinating, the most likely outcome is that Robertson and the Stars come to a long-term agreement to kick in for the 2027-27 season, when the team will have the free cap space to make it work. However, until an extension is actually inked beyond Jan. 1, the door remains open for Robertson to go elsewhere as soon as sometime next season.
So, the Robertson discussion can be shelved for now. But, even if the door to acquiring him is cracked open, that doesn't mean the Pittsburgh Penguins should wait for it to swing back open.
As it was well-documented over the last several weeks, the Penguins were the NHL team most legitimately linked to Robertson in trade rumors. It was clear that GM and POHO Kyle Dubas is enamored with Robertson. NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman said that the two teams had legitimate talks about a potential trade that never got across the finish line.
So, to a large extent, all the smoke surrounding Robertson and the Penguins certainly had a flame. And, hey, that spark could be reignited if January comes and goes without a new deal between the Stars and Robertson.
But, in order for Dubas and the Penguins to progress and move forward with their plan to take a legitimate step toward contention this season, they have no choice but to shift their focus to other potential game-changers on the market.
Dubas has reiterated several times over his desire for the Penguins to land a 20-something elite talent, and those intentions have been complicated as a result of the changing market. That talent will come at a premium, and Dubas - especially after the NHL Draft and the Leo Carlsson offer sheet situation - is very likely hyperaware of that.
Of course, it's all speculation as far as whether or not Robertson was Dubas's main target or still is. But, even if that's the case, pivoting to another talent - perhaps, a center - can help the team in the short- and long-term almost as much as Robertson can. Should they land a center such as Shane Wright or Dawson Mercer, they may be able to plug in long-term as a serviceable second-line center or a good third-line center.
Maybe they seek a higher-end left defenseman like Alexander Nikishin to help shore up the left side. Maybe they add another winger in the Egor Chinakhov mold such as his old teammate, Kent Johnson. Robertson may have been the biggest prize on the market, but there are still plenty of options out there who can help the Penguins next season and beyond.
And, perhaps, Dubas can target a center or a defenseman now, and then the Penguins will get lucky next summer if Robertson elects to go to free agency or doesn't sign long-term with Dallas. There is an avenue to acquire talent now while holding out hope that Robertson - or, even bigger-name players like Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews - might be available next summer.
For now, Dubas would be wise to shift to plan B and put plan A on the backburner. Really, it's the only choice they have if Dubas is to go through with his summer ambitions and add someone this summer who will make the Penguins take a sizeable step toward contention next season.
From October to April, the Pittsburgh Penguins teased the rest of the NHL, staggering through long periods when they looked like anything but the defending Stanley Cup champions.
But when the NHL’s longest and most tumulnous season finally concluded on the first night of June at Chicago Stadium, it was again Mario Lemieux and the Penguins who hoisted the Stanley Cup.
The final game was a fitting end to the Penguins’ journey. Throughout the game, they teased the Blackhawks, taking four one-goal leads and entering the final period in a 4-4 tie before snuffing out the Hawks 6-5.
Despite the nip-and-tuck nature of the last game, in the end the Penguins were simply too much for Chicago. The four-game sweep was the first since the Edmonton Oilers beat the Boston Bruins in 1988.
And there can be no doubt that once again the Penguins are the class of the NHL.
Pittsburgh finished the playoffs on an 11-time winning streak. Ironically, the Blackhawks entered the final series with a similar 11-game streak only to be buried by the Penguins’ combination of defense, headlined by the goaltending of Tom Barrasso, and offense, headlined by Lemieux.
“I think you can win one Stanley Cup and people might say you got the breaks,” Barrasso said. “But two in a row, that really says something. It says something about your character.”
Those who wish to rush to judgment and fit the Penguins into a niche among the NHL’s championship teams would do well to compare this group to Wayne Gretzky’s Oilers. Much like those Edmonton teams, which featured Gretzky, Jari Kurri and Mark Messier, this Penguins’ team has ample offense with Lemieux, emerging star Jaromir Jagr and Kevin Stevens.
The comparison becomes even stronger when you consider, like those Edmonton teams, the Penguins have learned that when the playoffs arrive, they must sacrifice some of their freewheeling offense for defensive grit.
They learned that lesson well under coach Bob Johnson last season and used that memory reflex this spring to limit their opponents to just 36 goals in their final 14 games.
“We can play it any way they want,” Stevens said. “If they want to open it up against us, that’s fine. We’re confident we can play that way and nobody can stay with us. And if they want to play the other way, well, that’s fine, too.”
When you look back at Pittsburgh’s championship odyssey, you will see a team that was driven by the challenge of big games. Jarred by the death of Johnson early in the season, they chafed under the cactus style of coach Scott Bowman. The complaining came to a head during a team meeting in February but they never let off-ice problems blot out their final goal.
“We never lost our focus,” Barrasso said. “We always stuck together and we went through a lot with the death of our coach. It was a tough season for Scotty Bowman. A lot of people, I think, looked at it as if he would be a failure if we did not win the Cup. That’s a lot of pressure.”
The Penguins’ playoff road began with a scary seven-game series against the Washington Capitals, a series in which they were forced to the wall for the only time in the playoffs, trailing 3-1 in the series before mounting a comeback.
"We learned our lessons in that series,” left winger Troy Loney said. “We stopped taking penalties. There is no better feeling than having a cut on your face at the end of the series but shaking hands in the winning line.”
Pittsburgh wobbled through the regular season. There was actually some question about whether the Penguins would qualify for the playoffs in the competitive Patrick Division. But when the Penguins could see April, they drove up the tempo.
Following a similar plan as last season, general manager Craig Patrick made a major move in February, sending 100-point scorer Mark Recchi to the Philadelphia Flyers and superstar defenseman Paul Coffey to the Los Angeles Kings in a deal that brought rugged forward Rick Tocchet and defenseman Kjell Samuelsson to Pittsburgh.
It was a move similar to the acquisition of Ulf Samuelsson and Ron Francis from the Hartford Whalers last spring and the results were just as impressive.
With Lemieux, Jagr, and Stevens filling the sails with wind, guys such as Tocchet, Kjell Samuelsson, and the rest of an underrated defensive corps helped batten down the hatches.
Having escaped the Washington series, the Penguins faced what many felt would be their most severe test in a second-round match with the New York Rangers. The Penguins watched as Lemieux and Joe Mullen were wiped out with injuries at Madison Square Garden. But even with those two gone, the Penguins took the series against a team with the best record in the NHL.
“I think that series was the toughest,” Barrasso said. “With Mario and Joe Mullen gone, a lot of guys had to come to the front.”
Lemieux, who came back for the second game of a four-game sweep over the Boston Bruins in the semifinals, played brilliantly despite a damaged hand.
Before the final series, Chicago coach Mike Keenan warned his Blackhawks might try to “lean on” Lemieux. He had it wrong. The only people who lean on Mario Lemieux are the Pittsburgh Penguins, and once again he held them up.
“He’s the greatest player in the world,” Keenan said after the final game. And again, the leader of the Stanley Cup champions
Former Senators forward Andrew Agozzino has announced his retirement from pro hockey.
Agozzino played 847 AHL regular-season games over his 14-year pro career. The 35-year-old also played 53 NHL games with stops in Colorado, Anaheim, Pittsburgh, Ottawa, San Jose and, finally, this past season in Utah. He announced his retirement on Instagram with some of his favourite hockey photos from his career.
It was almost five years ago to the day that Agozzino signed a one-year, two-way deal worth $800,000 with the Senators. He was used almost exclusively in Belleville that year, where he finished third in club scoring with 43 points in 66 games.
But he did get called up for one game in the 2021-22 season, making him a member of the Senators' one-and-done club.
Agozzino is one of just 18 players to appear in exactly one regular-season game for the Senators. Every one of them hoped there would be a second, but it never came.
Here's the full list:
Martin St. Amour — Left Wing (LW) — 1992-93*
Kevin MacDonald — Defenceman (D) — 1993-94*
Bobby Dollas — Defenceman (D) — 1999-2000
Erich Goldmann — Defenceman (D) — 1999-2000*
David Van Drunen — Defenceman (D) — 1999-2000*
Simon Lajeunesse — Goaltender (G) — 2001-02*
Brooks Laich — Centre (C) — 2003-04
Julien Vauclair — Defenceman (D) — 2003-04*
Danny Bois — Right Wing (RW) — 2006-07*
Andre Petersson — Right Wing (RW) — 2011-12*
Nathan Lawson — Goaltender (G) — 2013-14
Matt O'Connor — Goaltender (G) — 2015-16*
Patrick Sieloff — Defenceman (D) — 2017-18
Daniel Taylor — Goaltender (G) — 2017-18
Andrew Agozzino — Left Wing (LW) — 2021-22
Viktor Lodin — Centre (C) — 2021-22*
Magnus Hellberg — Goaltender (G) — 2022-23
Hunter Shepard — Goaltender (G) — 2025-26
The only man in the one-and-done club to record a point in their game with the club was Sieloff, who scored a goal in a 7-2 loss to Florida in 2018.
Remarkably, Sieloff played only one other NHL game in his career (with Calgary), and he scored in that game, too.
For 10 players on the list, marked by an asterisk, their lone appearance with the Senators also proved to be the only NHL game of their careers.
At first glance, that might seem a little sad. But ask almost any retired minor pro player, and they'd tell you they would have given just about anything for even one night in the NHL.
A small taste of the dream is way better than none at all.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published in The Hockey News. For more Sens coverage at The Hockey News, click on one of the Sens headlines below:
A former Pittsburgh Penguins forward is hanging up the skates, as Andrew Agozzino has announced his retirement from professional hockey.
Agozzino spent most of this past season in the AHL with the Tucson Roadrunners, where he posted 19 goals, 20 assists, and 39 points in 56 games. He also played in his two final career NHL games during the 2025-26 season with the Utah Mammoth, where he was held off the scoresheet. This was the first time he played at the NHL level since the 2022-23 season, when he was a member of the San Jose Sharks.
Agozzino spent most of his career in the AHL and put up some strong numbers in the process. In 847 career AHL games over 15 seasons, he posted 284 goals, 378 assists, and 662 points.
Agozzino appeared in 17 games during the 2019-20 season with Pittsburgh, where he recorded two assists and 19 hits. He also posted 14 goals, 19 assists, and 33 points in 37 AHL games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins that season.
In 53 career NHL games over eight seasons split between the Colorado Avalanche, Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Ottawa Senators, Sharks, and Mammoth, he posted three goals, nine assists, 12 points, and 74 hits.
Before Jared Bednar became the coach who led the Colorado Avalanche to the Stanley Cup, he was making a name for himself with the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters.
One of the biggest reasons those Monsters won the Calder Cup in 2016 was a young winger named Oliver Bjorkstrand.
Bjorkstrand appeared in 51 regular-season games that year, scoring 17 goals and adding 12 assists. Then he caught fire in the playoffs, piling up 10 goals and six assists in 17 games as Lake Erie swept the Hershey Bears to capture the championship.
Fast forward nearly a decade, and Bjorkstrand is beginning another chapter of his career.
The New York Rangers signed the veteran winger to a one-year, $4.5 million contract on the opening day of free agency, betting that his scoring touch can give their lineup another dimension.
Most of the attention this summer has gone to Pavel Dorofeyev after New York acquired him from the Vegas Golden Knights and immediately signed him to a seven-year extension worth $11 million per season. That’s understandable.
But don’t overlook Bjorkstrand. By the time the season is over, he may end up looking like one of the Rangers’ smartest additions.
Scoring goals has never been much of an issue for Bjorkstrand.
Last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning was an outlier, as he finished with 12 goals in 80 games. Before that, he had scored at least 18 goals in seven straight seasons and topped the 20-goal mark six different times.
Players with that kind of consistency aren’t easy to find, especially on a one-year contract.
Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller remain New York’s top two centers, but both are now in their 30s, and the depth behind them leaves plenty to be desired. If the Rangers don’t get enough production down the middle, it could limit the opportunities for their wingers.
Even so, Bjorkstrand has built a career on creating offense. He has an underrated release, finds soft spots in coverage, and doesn’t need many chances to make an impact.
The one-year commitment also works in the Rangers’ favor.
If New York is in the playoff race, Bjorkstrand gives the club another proven scorer who can provide valuable secondary offense.
If the season goes in the other direction, his contract becomes an asset as many contenders will be looking to add at the deadline.
Either way, it’s a low-risk move with plenty of upside.
For Avalanche fans, there’s another reason this signing stands out.
Bednar coached Bjorkstrand during one of the most memorable seasons of both of their careers. Bednar helped guide the young winger through a championship run, and Bjorkstrand rewarded that trust by becoming one of Lake Erie’s most dangerous offensive players when it mattered most.
The player arriving in New York today has years of NHL experience, but many of the traits that made him successful under Bednar are still there.
The Rangers are hoping those qualities help them take a step forward this season.
For Avalanche fans, it’s another chance to watch one of Bednar’s former players continue carving out a successful NHL career.
Through 704 NHL games, Bjorkstrand has recorded 184 goals and 232 assists for 416 points.
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Jason Robertson and the Dallas Stars will avoid a salary arbitration hearing after the high-scoring forward signed a $12 million contract for next season.
The Stars announced the deal Tuesday night, a day before Robertson's 27th birthday and 2 1/2 weeks after he had filed for arbitration.
“Jason has been a cornerstone of our franchise since he was drafted in 2017,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said. “A dynamic and skilled player, he has been one of the league’s top offensive threats since making his NHL debut."
Robertson, who has 490 points (213 goals and 277 assists) in his 456 regular-season career games with the Stars, could become an unrestricted free agent for the first time next summer.
His $12 million salary for 2026-27 matches forward Mikko Rantanen for the highest on the Stars. Rantanen just completed the first season of the $96 million, eight-year extension he signed to facilitate the deadline trade that brought him to Dallas from Carolina in March 2025.
Nill had acknowledged at the conclusion of the NHL draft that the Stars had a sign-and-trade deal in place to send Robertson to Seattle for the seventh overall pick. While Robertson couldn’t veto that trade, he wouldn’t agree to a long-term deal with the Kraken — a reported $120 million over eight years ($15 million a season).
Robertson had a team-high 96 points (45 goals, 51 assists) this past season. It was his third 40-goal season, and completed a $31 million, four-year deal he got in 2022.
The Stars drafted Robertson 39th overall in the second round of the 2017 draft. He has played all 328 of their regular-season games the past four seasons, scoring 365 points (155 goals and 210 assists) in that span.
Jason Robertson's contract drama with the Dallas Stars is over. For now, anyways.
Robertson, the high-scoring 26-year-old forward, has signed a one-year, $12 million contract with the Stars, the team announced on July 21.
The deal helps player and team avoid arbitration, which the restricted free agent had filed for amid a contract standoff. It also sets Robertson up to be an unrestricted free agent upon conclusion of the 2026-27 season.
If Robertson remains in the fold, Dallas figures to be dangerous again. A second-round pick in the 2017 draft, Robertson scored 45 goals and led the Stars with 96 points in 2025-26.
He has three other 80-point seasons under his belt, including a career-best 109 points recorded in 2022-23.
Jason Robertson contract details
The one-year, $12 million contract means Robertson doesn't move past Mikko Rantanen to become the Stars' highest-paid player. Instead, they are tied. Rantanen had signed an eight-year, $96 million extension with the Stars after they acquired him from the Hurricanes in March 2025.
According to puckpedia.com, the Stars are $1.36 million over the cap, but they have until the start of the season to get that remedied.
The Chicago Blackhawks community is waiting on the decision made by Patrick Kane. The report is that he is deciding between the Blackhawks, where he became one of the greatest players of all time, and the Buffalo Sabres, his hometown team.
On Tuesday, Chicago General Manager Kyle Davidson went on the show OverDrive, presented by TSN 1050 Radio, and added some fuel to the rumors by chiming in on the situation.
"We'll await his decision....but he knows our door is always open." 👀
"Patrick is someone that our organization, myself, have had a relationship for a long time," Davidson said. "I don't necessarily think it's right for me to comment on the process he's going to be running this offseason. A guy like Kaner has done pretty much everything there is to do in our game. He's inspired every young player playing hockey today with what he's accomplished, and he's earned the right to take his time and make a decision. We see him very often. He trains at our practice facility in the offseason. We'll await his decision, but he knows our door is always open. He's a Blackhawk at heart for life, even if he's not wearing our jersey. We've got a great deal of reverence, respect, and love for Patrick Kane, so we'll leave him to that decision, and we'll see where he ends up when that day comes."
It is all but confirmed now that Kane is actually considering a return to the Chicago Blackhawks. At 37, he isn't coming back to win any scoring titles or Hart Trophies, but he can be an above-average offensive contributor on a young team.
The leadership that Kane could provide, in addition to his overall skill set, would be perfect in a mentorship role. As Davidson said, he has done everything that a player can in the NHL, and now he can cement his legacy by returning to the team that he started it all with, if he so chooses.
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Jack Campbell’s NHL journey has come to an end, but the next chapter of his life is already underway.
The former Los Angeles Kings goaltender announced Monday that he is retiring from professional hockey after nine NHL seasons and will begin a new career as an identity and performance coach with Novus Global. In an emotional message shared on Instagram, Campbell said he realized the work that fulfilled him most was no longer stopping pucks, but helping others unlock their potential.
“Walking away from hockey wasn’t easy. It gave me more than I could have ever imagined. But over the last few years, I realized the work that brought me the most fulfillment wasn’t stopping pucks—it was helping people become who they’re capable of becoming.”
For many around the league, Campbell will be remembered for his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers. But it was in Los Angeles where his NHL career truly found its footing.
A former first-round pick who went 11th overall to the Dallas Stars in the 2010 NHL Draft, Campbell spent years trying to establish himself at hockey’s highest level. His NHL debut came with Dallas during the 2013-14 season, but opportunities were scarce, and the highly regarded prospect struggled to gain traction.
Everything changed after the Stars traded him to the Kings in 2016.
Los Angeles gave Campbell the opportunity to reset his career, develop his game and, perhaps most importantly, rebuild his confidence. Working behind franchise legend Jonathan Quick, Campbell embraced the backup role while steadily proving he could be counted on whenever his number was called.
His breakout arrived during the 2018-19 season after Quick missed significant time because of injury. Campbell stepped into an expanded role and responded with the best hockey of his career to that point, posting a .928 save percentage, a 2.30 goals-against average and two shutouts across 31 appearances.
More than the numbers, Campbell gave the Kings stability during a transitional period for the franchise. Night after night, he delivered dependable performances that earned the trust of teammates and coaches while showing the rest of the NHL he was far more than a former top prospect searching for another chance.
He followed that performance with another strong campaign in Los Angeles, recording a save percentage above .900 and a goals-against average below 2.75 before the Kings dealt him to the Maple Leafs during the 2019-20 season.
The move to Toronto brought Campbell into one of hockey’s biggest markets, and he continued to build on the success he had found in Southern California. His play earned him a selection to the 2022 NHL All-Star Game and helped position him as one of the top goaltenders available in free agency that summer.
The Edmonton Oilers rewarded him with a five-year contract in 2022, hoping he would solidify their crease. Instead, Campbell struggled to rediscover the consistency that defined his years with the Kings and much of his tenure in Toronto. Edmonton ultimately bought out the remaining years of his contract during the 2024 offseason.
His final season came within the Detroit Red Wings organization. Campbell appeared in 14 games for the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins but did not return to the NHL before deciding to step away from the game.
Although his career took him through Dallas, Toronto, Edmonton and Detroit, Los Angeles stands as the place where everything changed. The Kings provided Campbell with the opportunity that transformed him from an uncertain former first-round pick into a trusted NHL goaltender and eventual All-Star.
Now, Campbell is carrying those experiences into a different profession. Rather than mentoring teammates from the crease, he’ll be helping athletes, executives and other high performers as an identity and performance coach with Novus Global—a role he says aligns with the purpose he discovered during the final years of his playing career.
Once the hearing starts, the two sides must abide by what the arbiter decides in a ruling that must be submitted within 48 hours after each side presents its case.
Since Greaves filed for arbitration July 5, the Blue Jackets got to decide the length of a new contract and chose one year over the maximum two, which would have put Greaves, 25, straight into unrestricted free agency without compensation.
Briefs for the hearing were submitted July 21 and the sides are far apart on salary.
Greaves, who became the Blue Jackets’ top goalie last season in his first full NHL campaign, is asking for $7.5 million on a one-year deal while the Blue Jackets are offering $2.8 million.
Should the two sides not meet somewhere between those numbers prior to the hearing, an arbiter will decide Greaves’ salary for next season.
The arbiter can set the salary at any number that's at least equal to 85% of what Greaves made last season. Greaves made $825,000 in 2025-26, including a $25,000 signing bonus, so his minimum is $701,250.
He'll almost certainly make much more than that number and what he made last season, but the biggest hurdle in signing Greaves to a new contract is his lack of NHL experience.
Last season, he put together an impressive breakout with a 26-19-9 record, 2.60 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and two shutouts in 55 appearances to rank him fourth in the NHL in save percentage, fifth in goals-against and 11th in wins among goalies who played at least 3,000 minutes.
That’s his only full season, though, despite playing for the Blue Jackets in each of the previous three years. Greaves is also undersized for the position at 6 feet and 188 pounds, so finding comparable goalies could be a challenge.
That likely explains why there’s such a big divide between his salary submission and the team’s.
There’s still time to agree on an extension without going through a hearing, which the Blue Jackets have never done in 25 years, but Greaves’ situation should be resolved by July 25. The Blue Jackets could walk away from an arbitration ruling that exceeds a threshold of $4,538,958, which would make Greaves an unrestricted free agent, but that’s unlikely.
The Jackets are also trying to re-sign restricted free agent forwards Adam Fantilli and Cole Sillinger, who has an arbitration hearing set for July 27. Fantilli, a first-time RFA, is set for a huge pay raise going into his fourth season, while Sillinger is likely bound for a modest raise from his $2.25 million salary.
As we approach roughly 70 days until the start of the 2026-27 season, it is never too early to think about fantasy hockey. NHL.com recently announced its Top 250 fantasy player rankings, with only five members of the Calgary Flames cracking the list. Considering the organization is in the midst of a rebuild and its superstar power is limited now with Blake Coleman gone, it's no surprise that so few Calgary players found their way into the rankings.
Which Flames Players Made NHL.com's Top 250 Fantasy Rankings for 2026-27?
Unfortunately, there were no Flames players in the Top 50, Top 100, or even in the Top 150. Their first ranked player, at 190, is newly acquired defenseman Simon Nemec, who had 11 goals and 26 points in 68 games with the New Jersey Devils last season. He was the second-highest-scoring defender on the team behind Luke Hughes despite having the fifth-worst plus/minus total at minus-11.
At 221st overall, Zayne Parekh joined the rankings. The 20-year-old played 37 games with the Flames last year, collecting four goals and nine points with a minus-9 rating. In limited time with the Calgary Wranglers, he had five points in four games. Heading into next season, the young star in the making is slated to be a bottom-pairing defenseman, waiting for the opportunity to break out.
Not too far down the list at No. 234 and No. 235, Nemec and Parekh are joined by former 20-goal scorer Matt Coronato and 20-year-old Matvei Gridin. Last year in 80 games, the 23-year-old Coronato led the Flames in scoring with 18 goals and 45 points, two points ahead of captain Mikael Backlund. After scoring 24 goals in 2024-25, Coronato regressed while the Flames struggled to score as a team.
Meanwhile, Gridin got his first taste of NHL action last year, scoring six goals and 20 points in 37 games, the same number of games he played with the Wranglers. But he had 10 goals and 30 points in the NHL. Heading into next season, there's a chance that Gridin finds himself in a significant role in the rebuilding Flames, tapped as a top-line winger at the moment.
Finally, the last-ranked player on the NHL.com list is goaltender Dustin Wolf. As the Flames tumbled down the standings, Wolf had his first losing season, posting a 23-29-3 record and leading the NHL in losses. After carrying Calgary to higher finishes than expected in previous years, it appears that he's plateaued with a 60-52-12 record through 128 games. Now, that's not just on Wolf, but the team in front of him.
Are you surprised that more Flames players didn't make the list? Can Jonathan Huberdeau have a bounce-back campaign? Could Connor Zary reach 20 goals? What about Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Brassard was selected by the Blue Jackets with the sixth-overall pick of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. From there, he played each of his first six seasons in Columbus from 2007-08 to 2012-13, where he recorded 58 goals, 111 assists, and 169 points in 309 games.
Brassard's time with the Blue Jackets ended when he was traded to the Rangers during the 2012-13 season in a multi-player deal that included Columbus acquiring Marian Gaborik. With that, Brassard is someone who the Rangers are already familiar with.
As for Quick, he was briefly a member of the Blue Jackets organization during the 2022-23 season. The Los Angeles Kings memorably included him in a trade package to land Vladislav Gavrikov and Joonas Korpisalo from the Blue Jackets.
However, Quick was then quickly traded by the Blue Jackets to the Vegas Golden Knights before he played a game for Columbus. He won his third career Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights that year before playing the final three seasons of his NHL career with the Rangers.
The New York Rangers have bolstered their development staff with two new additions.
According to Mollie Walker of The New York Post, the Rangers are hiring Jonathan Quick as director of goaltending development.
Additionally, Vincent Mercogliano of The Athletic reports that the Rangers have hired Derick Brassard as a player development assistant.
Jonathan Quick spent the last three seasons of his 19-year NHL career with the New York Rangers before officially retiring at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
The 40-year-old goaltender posted a 35-30-6 record, 2.94 save percentage, and .899 goals against average in 76 games for the Rangers.
Now, Quick transitions into the next phase of his career on the development side, staying with the franchise he ended his playing career with.
Brassard spent four of his 16 seasons in the NHL playing for the Blueshirts and was a part of the Rangers team that reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2014.
In 254 games for the Rangers, Brassard recorded 69 goals, 105 assists, and 174 points.
After his time with the Rangers, Brassard played for the Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, Arizona Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, and Florida Panthers before announcing his retirement in 2024.
The Rangers promoted Tanner Glass as the director of player development in May after the previous director of player development, Jed Ortmeyer, stepped down from the position to pursue other opportunities.
